U.S. · Tax forms
1099-INT box 3, Treasury and savings bond interest.
What goes in box 3, what stays out of box 1, and where related items land.
Box 3 of Form 1099-INT reports interest on U.S. savings bonds, Treasury bills, Treasury notes and Treasury bonds. The instructions say not to include that interest in box 1, so a Treasury interest payment and a bank interest payment show up in different boxes of the same form.
Find the box
Result
What the instruction says
Box 3 asks the payer to enter interest on U.S. Savings Bonds, Treasury bills, Treasury notes and Treasury bonds, and says not to include it in box 1. For a taxable covered security bought at a premium, the instructions point to box 12.
Who files and at what line
The instructions ask for a Form 1099-INT for each person to whom you paid amounts reportable in boxes 1, 3 or 8 of at least $10. That test looks at those boxes together. A Form 1099-INT is also required, whatever the amount, if you withheld and paid foreign tax on the interest or withheld backup withholding and did not refund it.
Backup withholding
Box 4 is where backup withholding goes. The box 4 instruction applies it to payments reportable in box 1 (which may be reduced by box 2), box 3 and box 8. The rate is set out in part N of the General Instructions for Certain Information Returns, not on this page.
Who the payer names on the form
If a payer makes payment on a U.S. Savings Bond or another U.S. obligation on which interest is reportable, the instructions tell the payer to put its own name, address and TIN on Form 1099-INT and Form 1096, not those of the U.S. Treasury Department or the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.
Worked example (made-up figures)
An investor holds a Treasury note and a savings account at a bank. The Treasury note interest of $140 belongs in box 3 of one Form 1099-INT, and the bank interest of $85 belongs in box 1 of a separate form. A broker paying both could show them on one form in two boxes; either way, the $140 does not appear in box 1.
Related decoders
More 1099 interest and dividend box pages: 1099-INT box 11, 1099-INT box 10, 1099-INT box 2, 1099-DIV box 2a, 1099-OID box 8. For the 1099-R box 7 codes see the 1099-R distribution codes lookup.
Sources
- Instructions for Forms 1099-INT and 1099-OID (01/2024): the box-by-box section for this form. Read November 2, 2026. The IRS page was last reviewed April 30, 2026.
Edition read: Instructions for Forms 1099-INT and 1099-OID (01/2024). These instructions are continuous use and are updated as needed, so check the current version before relying on a detail. This page summarizes the instructions and does not replace them; the worked example uses made-up figures.
Frequently asked questions
What is box 3 on Form 1099-INT?
Interest on U.S. Savings Bonds, Treasury bills, Treasury notes and Treasury bonds. The instructions say not to include it in box 1.
Is box 3 interest included in box 1?
No. The box 3 instruction says to enter the interest there and not include it in box 1.
What is the dollar line for filing a 1099-INT with box 3 interest?
The instructions call for a form for each person paid amounts reportable in boxes 1, 3 or 8 of at least $10. A form is also required where foreign tax was withheld and paid or backup withholding was withheld and not refunded, regardless of amount.
Does backup withholding apply to box 3?
Yes. The box 4 instruction applies backup withholding to payments reportable in box 1, box 3 and box 8.
Where does premium on a Treasury obligation go?
In box 12, bond premium on Treasury obligations, for a covered security. If a net amount of interest was reported in box 3, box 12 is left blank.
Not tax advice
This page summarizes IRS instructions, mostly written for the people who prepare the form, and is not tax, legal or financial advice. The payer, a CPA or an enrolled agent can confirm what a box means for your return. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.